Griggs courier., 1887-06-17
THE SUMAC INDUSTRY. !;
ACCOUNT OF a CORRESPONDENT
FROM THE ISLAND OF SICILY.

FROM THE ISLAND or SICILY.
Methods oe Caltiva4isn IN tho 0rsae
samae Districts-G Ga4herins the Crep
ee I.ssvss-On the Threshina E7oor.
virginia's Prodset.
Sicilian sumac stands flrst In an tho
markets Of the world. This is duo to tho
great care bestowed upon its gathering
and curing. The sumac is q native Of
Africa and Syria. For centuries It has
been grown In Sicily, but It Is not in-
digcnous to that island, where its seed
seldom comes to perfection, and It Is pro-
pagated by sprouts and suckers In
Africa the seed, which Is perfect, Is used
as condiment. The sumac belongs to
the genus Rhus- -turpentine family.
There are many varieties Of this shrub,
some of which ore used in tanning, others
in dycing and others again in medicine.
The Rhus Coriarin known hero Gsf the
common su1nac) IS generally cultivated in
Sicily Palermo and Trapani arc tho
in the province of Catiana, but is Gtt present
Mcssina. 1t grows wild in certain sec
tions, where it propagates by suckers.
The cultivated su1nac is very bushy. Tn
der favorable conditions Of soil and cli-
mate it grows from nine to twelve feet
high, but as it is annually topped it does
not attain O. height greater than three
fect-onc years growth of wood. 1t
thrivcs where the orange trec and cotton
plant have their home. 1t is clso well
adapted to q temperate climate. A warm,
calcareo-sil;ccous porous soil suits it best.
METHODS OF CULTIVATION.
The sumac is worked in December or
January. The suckers are then removed
from the old plants and set out in the
grove. When the leaves sell for 1-2
cents per pound suckers bring cent
apiece. Suckers should be straight, one
lialf inches in diameter, fifteen inches high
end we'll supplied with 1ibrous roots.
They arc set out in parallel rows, running
with the slope of the land-5, ,0G0 to the
acN, and trimmed down to within six
inches Of the ground. They are culti-
vatcd by halNl, q long, broad Grubbing hoe
(zappN Eeing used. Tho earth is drawn
up to the plants that the rain may run of.
During the first ycar-from Deccnbepto to
Scptembcr-thc sumac is worked seven
times; in December, February and April,
deep grubhings; in May the cartl, is lev.
elcti, and three light workings follow be-
tween June and September. During the
second and subsequent years 1t is worked
In December end the cartl is lcvclcd in
March, heavy rcins seldom occurring in
Sicily during the spring. Tho third uud
last working is in May At three years
the crlmec is full grown. It's innunlcr-
able suckers must then be removed or they
will enfceble the plant. ,..
Tic first year the sumGc bears but few
leaves, which mature late, are light, aud
have neither the color nor tho aroma Of
those Of the adult shrub. During August
and September the large leaves are
gathered, and the tender ones, on the tips
of the branches, arc left until they are
mature In October. In January the plants
arc cut down to a height of six inches.
Plants Of two years nnd over arc either
topped and trimmed before their leaves
are gathered q considerable saving Of
labor, but by topping the shrubs in midi
summer their longevity and productive
ness arc diminished), or stripped Of their
leaves in May, june, August or Scptem.
Der, and pruned in December OF January
following. Men only arc employed for
pruning. As each man gathers an arm.
full Of branches or twigs, lie piles them on
the ground In rows, In such q manner as
to expose as little surface as possible to
the sun, which bleachcs Grd scc-ctcs the
leaves, Diminishing their market value.
The rows are run in the direction Of the
prevailing winds to avoid loss by the
scattering of the leaves. Should the
branches and twigs be exposed to a shower
while lying on the ground their leaves
suffer greatly, both in quality and weight.
Twenty days after the E.ain harvesting
the suckers are, In turn, stripped of their
leaves. Women and children gather tho
leaves.
on THE T1IRAsnING FLOOR.
After few Gays Of dry, warm weather
tho crop is carried to the thra shing floor,
and the leaves are whipped of with the
old fashioned fail and baled. The twigs
are tied in bundles and sold for fircwood.
When the leaves are stripped by hand
they are at once carried to the storehouse
and turned over three or four times day
with pitchforks, to prevent ovcrhcating
and fermentation. These leaves ere thus
cured in four or five days, b,.lcd end sent
to the mills to be ground.
The price of sumac depends upon the
color of the leaves, which should be bright
green when put upon the market. Cured
leaves from one-ycar-old bush arc of
dull green color; those Of the September
gathering are blackish in hue. Care is
taken not to mix the different varieties.
-Four Qualities OF sumac arc quoted on the
market: First quality, whole leaves, free
from trash, shipped in bales; second quail
ity, thrashctl sumac; third quality, leaves
from 0nc-year-old shrubs; fourth quality,
leaves Of September gathering.
The sumac grows spontaneously in va
rious sections of the United States on poor,
rough and abandoned lards md hillsif!es